X Factor's Matt Terry in rehearsals for Madagascar musical

We were invited along to get a first look at the new stage adaptation of Dreamworks' Madagascar, which begins its UK tour in Wimbledon next week.

Matt Terry – winner of X Factor 2016 – makes his acting debut as Alex the Lion in the new stage adaptation of DreamWorks' hit family film, which opens at the New Wimbledon Theatre this month prior to a UK tour.

The new musical follows all the film's favourite animals as they escape from New York's Central Park Zoo and head off on an unexpected journey to the world of King Julien's Madagascar.

Since winning Simon Cowell's TV talent show, Terry had a top three hit with his winner's single "When Christmas Comes Around" (written by Ed Sheeran), before releasing his debut album Trouble in November 2017.

The cast also features Antoine Murray-Straughan, Timmika Ramsay, Jamie Lee-Morgan, Shane McDaid, Laura Johnson, Jessica Niles, Victoria Boden, Matthew Pennington and Darren John.

The Selladoor production is directed by Kirk Jameson with choreography from Fabian Aloise, design by Tom Rogers, lighting by Howard Hudson, sound by Chris Whybrow, musical supervision from Mark Crossland and puppet direction from Emma Brunton.

After New Wimbledon Theatre, the tour will call at Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Southend, Blackpool, Bridlington, Bromley, Edinburgh, Bristol, Ipswich, Bradford, Derry, Exeter, Brighton, Grimsby, Liverpool, Reading, Woking, Wirral, Belfast, Oxford, Wolverhampton, Eastbourne, Swansea and Hull.